James Arthur: 'I may quit after panic attacks'

I find the whole fame thing unnatural and often when fans come up to me I’m just so tired

James Arthur

The singer, 24, said he might have to pull out following a ­collapse when pressure to ­perform on live telly became too much.

He said: “I’d been thinking that I would have to leave the competition because of my panic attacks.

“When I had one a few weeks ago I was worried I would have a ­nervous breakdown.

“It was horrible.”

After one show, James was ­struggling to breathe, having spasms and losing feeling in his arms.

Producers called an ambulance and doctors later warned him he needed to rest.

He has since said he thought he was suffering a heart attack and feared he was going to die.

Last night he admitted he is still struggling to cope with the ­gruelling rehearsal schedule.

He said: “I’m knackered because we’re so busy all the time. I ­embrace the pressure and try to use it as positive energy.

“But I find the whole fame thing unnatural and often when fans come up to me I’m just so tired.”

James is convinced his fears of further anxiety attacks will disappear once he leaves the show.

He said: “I’ve got stronger since my last panic attack.

“Hopefully it won’t happen again because I doubt I’ll ever work as hard again as I have on X Factor.

“The show can be very full-on.”

Show bosses are said to be ­desperate for him to be in the final because they think he gives the series credibility.

But they have refused to let the talented songwriter perform his own material even if he is voted through by viewers.

James said: “I asked to sing my own stuff but they said I wasn’t allowed.

“I’d love to perform my own material on the show.

“That’s why I came here, to make my own music.

“But the themes dictate what you can sing.”

He added: “I’ve been told there’s no place for me to sing my own songs in the final or semi-final.

“I’ll stick to the premise of the show and do what’s asked of me. I’ll have to do my best with the themes and what I’m given.”

It’s not all hard work for James though, as he enjoyed a snog with sexy model Jodie Denton at London’s trendy ­Chinawhite bar, below.

Jodie, 20, from York said: “He’s lovely to talk to and he’s got these amazing, gorgeous blue eyes.

“We were chatting for a few ­minutes and just hit it off.

“I gave him a peck on his cheek for luck and he said ‘Let’s make it a proper kiss’, so we did. Fast mover or what?”

The pair then headed outside for a cigarette.

One on-looker said: “He put his number in Jodie’s phone and asked to see her again. Loads of girls were having photos taken with James but he only had eyes for Jodie – it was obvious he fancied her rotten.”

Jodie said: “James asked for my number and we’ve been texting each other.

“I’d love to see him again. I’ve just bought my own house in York, which isn’t far from James in Middlesbrough.”